You tuck cucumber vines into the soil while dreaming of the fresh, crunchy fruits and tart pickles to come. And then one day, you walk into the garden to find holey, sickly plants in place of the lush foliage you expect. Upon closer inspection, you might notice the tiny insects infesting your beloved plants: cucumber…
Not a common color among flowering plants, blue adds a unique beauty to the garden. Its calming hue invites wanderers to pause and take notice. Blue annuals are especially versatile, offering bold pops of color that refresh your garden design from season to season. Whether you want to accent a serene cottage border, enhance a…
It’s a bit eerie, not to mention disappointing, to walk out to the garden and find some-or all! – of your tomato plants missing without a trace. Once you’ve convinced yourself that you did, in fact, plant them, you might look closer and see tiny nubs where tomato vines used to be. So what happened?…
Nothing catches the eye in a garden quite like a bright red flower, for humans and hummingbirds alike. And while perennials certainly have their benefits, the quickest way to get these show-stopping crimson blooms into your garden is to plant annuals. To help you choose among the many plants available, here is a list of…
Though commonly planted in herb gardens, lavender has many beautiful roles in landscaping. It comes in various hues, and the many varieties have different bloom times for a summer full of fragrant flower spikes. And they’re all beautiful and smell lovely! Landscaping with lavender results in stunning displays of flowers and calming aromas that waft…
Whether you live in southern Florida or get buried in the snow every winter, you may dream of having a tropical oasis in your backyard. Of course, this will be easier to implement if you live further south, but even those of us in areas that experience freezing temperatures can bring a bit of the…
We could all use more peace in our lives, and a beautifully designed garden, however simple, can provide a calm space for rest and meditation. The sound of rustling leaves, the scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle trickle of water can quiet the mind and soothe the soul. Whether you have a sprawling backyard…
Lavender plants suffer from very few pests and even fewer diseases. In fact, as an aromatic herb, lavender may even help protect other plants from pests by repelling harmful insects or disguising target plants with its strong fragrance. But all of this brings little comfort and no help when lavender plants do show signs of…
If you like a tidy, green lawn, have grazing animals, or are tired of digging weeds out of your flower beds, buttercups might not be your friends. These sunny yellow flowers can bring a smile to a child’s face (“Do you like butter?”), but they can quickly become a nuisance to gardeners. Before we dive…